An early-morning police patrol through a Meridian parking lot has landed three people in the Ada County Jail on various charges.
About 2:15 a.m. Wednesday, a Meridian Police officer on routine patrol in 1000 block of South Progress Avenue noticed a parked vehicle with a door ajar. The vehicle initially appeared to be unoccupied.
Looking closer, the officer found a man and two women asleep inside the vehicle.
“The officer observed signs of apparent drug usage, including (one suspect) sweating profusely and having memory-loss issues,” said Meridian Deputy Police Chief Tracy Basterrechea.
A drug-detecting police K-9 was dispatched to the scene, and alerted on the vehicle.
“Officers found 1.5 grams of methamphetamine, two hydrocodone pills, and a small amount of heroin in a purse belonging to one of the women, Flor Espinoza,” Basterrechea said.
Police also found digital scales and various drug paraphernalia in the suspects’ possession, he stated.
Flor Espinoza, 30, of Mountain Home, now faces three felony counts of possession of a controlled substance, one felony count of possession of a controlled substance with intent to deliver, and possession of drug paraphernalia, a misdemeanor.
Donna Carrasco, 37, also of Mountain Home, was arrested for misdemeanor possession of drug paraphernalia.
And Marcus Guajardo, 28, of Nampa, was arrested for two misdemeanor probation violations.
